Australian captain Alyssa Healy racing the clock to be fit for World Cup semi-final

Australia is through to the final four at the T20 World Cup, but chances of snaring a fourth-straight title could hinge on the captain’s fitness.

Tahlia McGrath says she felt “calm” stepping into the captaincy role, with the next few days of rest set to determine whether she’ll keep the role or skipper Alyssa Healy will be available for Australia’s World Cup semi-final on either Friday or Saturday.

The Australians secured their spot in the final four with a gritty nine-run win over India playing without Healy, who limped into the ground in Sharjah on crutches and in a moon boot after suffering a foot injury in the previous match against Pakistan.

McGrath, who made a crucial 32 with the bat before throwing the ball to Annabel Sutherland, who iced the final over to secure an unbeaten run in the pool matches, said she had her “fingers crossed” the coming days would allow Healy to heal.

“We’ve got a couple of days now. I’m going to leave that in the hands of our doctors to get to work on her,” she said after the win.

“Fingers crossed that they can (and) she can be available but we’ll know more in the next couple of days and how that plays out.”

Australian captain Alyssa Healy on crutches, not a sight Aussie fans want to see.

It remains unclear just exactly what Healy’s foot issue is, but the sight of the skipper on crutches ensures she remains up against it to get back in time for at least the semi-final.

That would leave McGrath in charge and the vice-captain said the work she had done with Healy, since she replaced legendary Meg Lanning, had her prepared to take over when the stakes were at their highest.

With experienced players including Ellyse Perry and Ash Gardner also in the team, McGrath said she had enough support to lean on.

“I felt a lot more prepared today, a lot more calm taking on the captaincy,” she said.

“I’ve been in the vice-captain role for an extended period of time now and really like the way that Midge (Healy) and I work together. We think very similarly and then today I had really good support around me in especially Pez and Ash; they helped me out a lot and were just really good to bounce some ideas around.

“I’ve got plenty of support in this team. We’re great at getting around each other and just stepping up into whatever role is needed.”

Tahlia McGrath took charge for Australia without Healy. Picture: Francois Nel/Getty Images

The Australians also lost fast bowler Tayla Vlaeminck for the rest of the tournament after she suffered a shoulder injury and McGrath said the squad was handling the tumult well.

“There’s been a lot going on … a lot to process,” she said.

“But in tournaments like this it’s move on, you’ve got a job to do and we’ve been really trying to get around each other as a group, whether it be the injured girls, the girls playing slightly different roles and just really sticking together as a group and focusing on the job at hand. I thought we did a really good job of that and came out and played really well tonight, so really proud of the group.”

Grace Harris replaced Healy at the top of the order and blasted a team-high 40 in her first match for the tournament in a positive sign of Australia’s depth as they chase a fourth consecutive T20 World Cup title.

Sutherland then took two of the four wickets to fall in a calamitous final over for the Indians as Australia sealed the victory.

“She’s so composed, she knew her plan, she executed beautifully,” McGrath said of Sutherland.

Defending 14 off the last, four Indian wickets fell as Annabel Sutherland conceded only four runs #T20WorldCup

More on her clutch finish: https://t.co/FyrOPhGMvupic.twitter.com/eFhJBpToOS

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) October 13, 2024

“I said to her after how was your heart rate and she goes ‘no, I was fine, I was chill as’, so I think that just shows the type of maturity that Belsey has. She’s been in those big moments and delivered for us time and time again Even at the back end with some handy runs for us. She was huge for us today and very cool under pressure.”

Originally published as Australian captain Alyssa Healy racing the clock to be fit for World Cup semi-final